Huagai Palace.
Zhu Yuanzhang put down the letter and looked at Zhu Biao: "What is a tactical backpack?"
Zhu Biao was confused: "I don't know."
Zhu Yuanzhang turned his attention to Zhou Zong and said majestically: "Tell the story exactly, without leaving out a single sentence."
Zhou Zong did not dare to neglect, and he recounted the scene when he was approaching Jurong and every conversation with Gu Zhengchen in detail.
Zhu Yuanzhang lowered his head to look at the letter and nodded slightly: "The subordinate officials control the officials, that's the Yuan Dynasty. Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, only officials have controlled the subordinate officials. This guy didn't mention anything about the county government in the letter. It seems that he has dealt with it. This is the right policy. If you can’t keep these little people in check, how can you become a big deal?”
Zhu Biao stood on one side and did not answer.
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand to ask Zhou Zong to step back, and then looked at Zhu Biao: "Gu Zhengchen mentioned the Five Rongs, what do you think?"
Zhu Biao bent down slightly and replied in a deep voice: "Father, I think Gu Zhengchen wanted to use the name of sword training to recruit one or two loyal and trustworthy people. Now Jurong and Xu officials have become one, and even three None of the yamen officials are doing their job. Gu Zhengchen is in a very dangerous situation at this time and there is no one available at hand, so..."
Zhu Yuanzhang threw the letter on the desk and chuckled: "This boy still has a scholarly temperament, a little greedy for life and afraid of death. If the subordinate officials dare to do whatever they want, how dare they hurt him?"
Zhu Biao smiled a little unnaturally at the corners of his mouth.
Dad, for the sake of profit, let alone subordinate officials dare to harm the county magistrate.
Think about how many people betrayed you overtly or covertly back then. If it hadn't been dealt with in time, our old Zhu family would probably have found Grandpa Zhu Wusi and staged a happy ending.
Yes, in the six years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, there has indeed been no case of a subordinate official killing the county magistrate, but daddy, it's not that there are no officials who died in office. I heard that a county magistrate died in Guangdong last year, and the local government reported that the reason was that he was not suitable for the climate.
Whether it was because he was acclimatized or because the subordinate officials were dissatisfied, the court did not investigate further.
Zhu Biao didn't want Gu Zhengchen to be "acclimatized", so he hesitated and said in a roundabout way: "Father, Gu Zhengchen said that this tactical backpack can increase the army's logistics. The sergeants can use it to travel hundreds of miles without feeling more tired. I think that if it is true as what he said, it may be an important weapon in the army! One day he will go on an expedition to the desert, and it will definitely have miraculous results! Since he wants two sergeants to test the tactical backpack, he might as well give him two men to wait in Jurong first."
Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a while and agreed: "The tactical backpack is indeed of great importance. Once it is successful, it can increase the army's combat strength. In this case, let Mu Ying send two people to Jurong. Forget it about Zhou Zong and Wu Rong. They He is your personal guard, please don’t play with it.”
Zhu Biao was overjoyed. After taking the letter, he bowed and exited the Huagai Hall.
Zhu Yuanzhang picked up a copy of the Censor's Memorial and his eyes became cold: "Someone informed the Censor of Jinling to impeach you? Haha, Gu Zhengchen, you are telling me that Jurongxu officials or local big families colluded with the Censor of Jinling. , do you want to kill you? It seems that whoever impeaches you at this time is the one who wants you to leave Jurong."
Yushitai.
Supervisory censor Li Rang hurriedly found Chen Ning, the censor doctor, and whispered in a low voice.
Chen Ning's eyes lit up: "Is this serious?"
Li Rang responded solemnly: "How dare I lie? I mean every word. There was a businessman from Jurong yesterday. I also went to inquire about it. Gu Zhengchen did promise money to the corvee. This incident caused a stir in Jurong. Everyone knows that the people say that Gu Zhengchen loves and cares about the people, but the wealthy people are watching Gu Zhengchen’s jokes and waiting for him to leave Jurong."
A cold smile appeared on Chen Ning's face: "This hateful guy, if we don't deal with him, where will the majesty of Chen Ning be? You are responsible for reporting this matter, write it as big as possible, write it as serious as possible! It's done! Yes, I will recommend you as the imperial censor in the palace."
Li Rang was very excited. This time he made the right bet.
In August, Chen Shiju was ordered by Chen Ning to go to the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Xunbu to change Gu Zhengchen's official credentials. As a result, things got serious. Chen Ning blamed Chen Shiju for self-preservation. Finally, Chen Shiju was sent to Yangjiang, Guangdong.
This incident affected Chen Ning's prestige in the censorship. Although the supervisory censors did not say it, they secretly looked down on Chen Ning's style.
Li Rang knew that finding an opportunity to work for Chen Ning under such circumstances would be a "help in times of need" and would win his respect, appreciation and promotion.
It's just that Li Rang has always suffered from not having a suitable opportunity. It happened that at this time, he heard that Gu Zhengchen, the magistrate of Jurong County, had distributed money to the people in the name of the emperor, and he couldn't help but get excited.
Gu Zhengchen, isn't this the culprit?
If this man hadn't been in the East Palace on the Mid-Autumn Festival night, talking nonsense about eating and governing the country, how could Mr. Chen Ning and Chen be hungry, and how could Chen Shiju go to Yangjiang?
Taking revenge on this person will definitely win Chen Ning's favor.
The imperial censor in the palace, this is the fifth rank. The most important thing is that this place is closer to Zhongshu Province and closer to the emperor. Maybe he will be able to climb up in the future!
Li Rang swiped three thousand and handed it over in the late court, and then returned home, waiting for the emperor to issue an order to investigate and deal with the magistrate of Jurong County, waiting for the emperor to commend him for his meritorious disclosure, and waiting for Chen Ning's support.
A great future lies ahead tomorrow.
However, before Li Rang could wait for the sun tomorrow, at midnight, the pro-military guards ordered to arrest Li Rang and put him in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment.
Wu Yun, the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Wang Zhongli, the minister, and others had no time to sleep. They were ordered to interrogate Li Rang, the supervisory censor, all night long. They asked Li Rang how many benefits he had received from the Jurong rich family, and then they wrote a letter to impeach Gu Zhengchen, causing him to die. No mercy!
Li Rang was desperate. If he didn't just impeach the county magistrate, why would he be imprisoned himself?
I don’t know what Jurong’s rich family is like.
Wu Yun and Wang Zhongli interrogated for three hours. It was almost dawn, but Li Rang still hadn't given an explanation.
Morning next day.
Wu Yun and Wang Zhongli reported to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Li Rang's impeachment of Jurong officials was based on rumors and there was no suspicion of bribery."
How could Zhu Yuanzhang believe this? Gu Zhengchen said that there was a censor who wanted to impeach him and transfer him away from Jurong. Then Li Rang's impeachment memorial came. How could there be such a coincidence in the world?
If you don’t admit it, then search your house thoroughly.
Chen Ning was horrified when he saw it, and he winked at Zhang Du, the supervisory censor. Although Zhang Du was not Chen Ning's man, he was always just and unafraid of power. He even dared to impeach the heroes and generals who followed Zhu Yuanzhang to conquer the world.
Zhang Du saw that something was fishy, and it was related to the supervisory censor. He stood up and saluted: "Your Majesty, Li Rang is the supervisory censor. It is said that Li Rang is his duty. How can he be punished for this? If it goes on like this, isn't it? To make the censor dare not speak and block the way of speech?"
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhang Du coldly: "I am very pleased to hear that the rumor is going to happen, but if there is a supervisory censor colluding with the local government, dominating the yamen, taking bribes under the pretext of hearing about the matter, and pretending to be public for personal gain, then I - absolutely No mercy!”
Zhang Du didn't expect that there was such a serious matter behind him. Just when he was about to ask if there was any evidence, the right prime minister Hu Weiyong came out: "Your Majesty, the documents for using cotton cloth to transport autumn grain have been drawn up. Now that the autumn harvest is around the corner, we should do it as soon as possible." Distributed to Fuzhou County, Zhili Province, and Zhejiang and Jiangxi Provinces, so that the people can make early preparations to ensure that there is no shortage of materials needed for border defense in winter."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly: "Send the document and order local officials not to disturb the people during the autumn harvest, let alone to recruit corvees easily. If there is any violation, severe punishment will not be given!"
"I accept the decree."
Hu Weiyong solemnly agreed.
Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a moment and said solemnly: "Wei Guan, the prefect of Suzhou, reported that it was a waste of time for the grain chiefs to pay the two taxes. It often happened that the grain chiefs were harsh on the people. Some grain chiefs even passed on the grain taxes they should pay to the people. Harming the people and ruining their families! There is a grain chief who picks out people who cannot afford to transport grain and covets their land. I cannot bear it, so I decree that in Suzhou, Songjiang Prefecture and other places, under the grain chief, there will be a person who knows how to do it. There are twenty people at the fighting level, and a thousand people are responsible for delivering food, so as not to annoy the people."
"I accept the decree."
Hu Weiyong agreed.
Yan Xizhe, Lu Xi and others looked at each other.
Disperse the dynasty.
Yan Xizhe looked at Lu Xi with a frown on his face: "Why don't you say anything about today's court meeting?"
Lu Xi rolled her eyes at Yan Xizhe, "You are such a bad old man. You don't even stand up yourself, and you want me to stand up?"
“I think it’s feasible to use cotton cloth to transport autumn grain instead.”
Lu Xi spoke.
Yan Xizhe sat down, picked up the tea bowl and took a sip: "You know, I'm not talking about the cotton cloth replacing the autumn grain."
Lu Xi stared, lowered his head and picked up a document: "Yan Shangshu, we are ministers, there are things we can do but not say. You know, most disasters come from the mouth."
Yan Xizhe stared at Lu Xi and said in a deep voice: "Hypocrisy!"
Lu Xi raised his brows, and wrinkles appeared.
hypocritical? !
These two words may not necessarily refer to myself, but more to Emperor Zhu.
Whatever does not benefit the people and whatever is unbearable are all false.
It sounds nice to say it, but it is absolutely not the case.
In the restructuring of Songjiang Prefecture and Suzhou Prefecture, under the grain chief, there were set up officials who knew how to count, fight, and deliver grain. The purpose was not to not work the people or harm the money, but to work the people and collect money!
In the whole world, only Suzhou Prefecture and Songjiang Prefecture have the heaviest taxes. The combined taxes of the two prefectures amount to more than four million shi.
More than four million stones, this amount is more than the tax revenue of the entire Zhejiang province!
If your Majesty is really considerate of the people, he should reduce the heavy taxes in the two governments instead of setting up so many people to serve specifically to pay taxes and transport food. It is obvious that he saw the difficulties in collecting taxes in Suzhou and Songjiang Prefectures and the constant complaints from the people. This method was adopted to ensure taxation!
"Zhang Shicheng has been dead for several years, can't we let things go? My Majesty, after all, these are the people of the Ming Dynasty, the people of the Ming Dynasty."
Yan Xizhe lamented silently, and finally did not dare to write a letter to offend His Majesty.
Zhongshu Province.
Chen Ning was a little unhappy. He looked at Hu Weiyong and asked: "Why don't you let Zhang Du say a few more words? Gu Zhengchen used the county treasury's money to serve the people under the guise of the emperor. This is a capital crime! As long as Li Rang's impeachment memorial is made public, Then Gu Zhengchen..."
"enough!"
Hu Weiyong interrupted Chen Ning and warned with a gloomy face: "Don't touch this Gu Zhengchen if you have nothing to do. He is now from the East Palace and the prince's man! You don't know, right? Zhou Zong went to Jurong because of His Majesty's decree." , arranged by the prince, how do you know that what he did was not ordered by His Majesty?"
"Chen Ning, whatever doesn't kill him will make him stronger. At this juncture, we don't need to raise a strong political opponent. Do your job well, the Imperial College is in your hands, select some available people, It won’t be long before there will be a vacancy among the six departments.”
